Fence post driver and digger



I Nov. 24, 1953 J. F. ZEISER FENCE POST DRIVER AND DIGGEIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '7, 1950 James E Zeiser INVENTOR.

Nov. 24, 1953 J. F. ZEISER FENCE POST DRIVER AND DIGGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1950 n Em James F. Zeiser INVENTOR.

BY Wyn/q EMg Nov. 24, 1953 J. F. ZEISER FENCE POST DRIVER AND BIGGER Filed April 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. /0

Fig.8

James F. Ze/Zser INVENTOR- Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in post hole diggers and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a fence post and an apparatus for driving or screwing the fence post into or out of the ground.

Another importantobject of the present invention is to provide a device that will speed up construction and removal of fences, especially on farms where crop rotation is in effect and fences are changed from one acreage to another every few years; I

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a fence post installer that operates on a ratchet principle pressing and screwing the fence post intothe ground.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for drillinga hole or for installing fence posts including a support together with adjustable means for retaining the support in a vertical or vertically inclined position so that holes may be dug ,or posts installed in a vertical position on level or unlevel ground.

A stillfurther aim of the present invention is to provide a fence post and an apparatus for installing the fence post or for digging holes that is simple and practical in construction, strong andreliable in use, small and compact in structure, efiicient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, service and, operate, and otherwise welladapted for, the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of Figure 1 and showing the invention attached to the rear of a tractor;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of broken section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional'view taken substantially on the plane of section line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a cable support on the device rather than a post; 4

Figure 7 is an elevational view of one type fence 5 post used in the present invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is an elevational view of another type 10 of fence post used in the present invention;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line Ill-J0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an elevational view of a digger used 15 in the present invention and attached to the lower end of the feed screw; and s Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line l2--|2 of Figure 11. r

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It] represents a frame the forward end of which is coupled, as at l2, to the 2o rear end of a tractor M. The frame I!) includes a platform or base plate it on which there is journaled for rotation a magazine composed of upper and lowerplates 18 and 2!] each having circumferentially spaced recesses 22. The plates 39 I8 and 20 arejoined by vertical rods 24. Suitable "anti-friction .means are received between the plate 20 and the platform [6 to permit convenient manual rotation of the magazine about its pivot P.

A support 26 is mounted for vertical swinging movement on the rear end of the frame Ill and "includes, apair of channel members 28 Whose upper portions are bent inwardly and then up- Wardly to provide offsets 30 between which there is suitably fixed a guide sleeve 32.

40. E'ars 34 project laterally from the members 28 and are attached to the rear ends of the frame forming members 36 by horizontal pivots 38.

An adjustable connection is provided between the frame In and the support 26 so that the support may be retained in a selected rotated posi tion about its pivots 38. This means consists of a pair of pumps 4!! that are mounted on horizontal pivot pins or shafts 42 extending from the members 36. The pins 42 are strengthened by webs 44 that are secured to the pins and to the members 36. The pumps 40 include piston rods '46 that are pivoted to the channel members 28.

Vertical side members 48 are slidably received in the channel members 28. The members 48 are channel shaped and their edges contact inturned flanges 50 on the leg portions 52 of the channel members 28, as shown best in Figure of the drawings. The web portions of the channel members 28 are provided with longitudinal slots 54 that slidably receive guides or rods 56 fixed to the web portions of the members 48 and on which there is mounted collars 58.

Hydraulic pumps 60 are pivoted on the channel members 28 and include piston rods 62 that are attached to the rods 56 Wherebythe side members 48 may be selectively raised or lowered. The lower portions of the side members 48 are bent outwardly and then downwardly to form offsets 64 that support horizontally;disposedrstub axles 65 on which there are mounted wheels 68.

Support plates I0 at the lower ends.of the channel members 28 support upwardly, extend.- ing pumps I2 having piston rods the upper ends of which are joined by a cross-head- I6- Medially the ends of the cross-head I0 there is provided a-socket 'Ifi thatrotatably supports the upper cylindrical end of afeed screw or spiral member 80.

The guide sleeve 3211s, provided with apair. of diametrically opposedinternally threaded openings82 that reoeivably engageithreaded rods or bolts 84 having roundedinner end portions 80:

that will engage the screw 80 to impart rotation tothescrew as the screwis raised or loweredin the guide sleeve. beinternally threaded for the. samepurpose;

A valvehousing 88 is mounted on the rear of the tractor I4 and is connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor. Three two-way manually operated valves 90, Hand 94 arepo sitioned in the housing 88. A- pair of conduits 96- and 98 is associated with each of the'pumps 60 and enter the housing 88, and the flow of fluid through these conduits is controlled by -the valve 90. Another pair of conduits I00-and I02 is associated with eachof', the pumps 40'and these conduits enter thehousing 88 and the'flow of fluid through theconduits I00, I0-21is controlled by the valve 92. A. further pair ofconduits I04 and. I06 is associated with each' of thepumps I2 and these conduits also enter the housing 88 and theflow of. fiuidthrough the conduits I04 and I06 is controlled by the valve"94-;

The. valves 90, 92 and 04 are. independently operatedfor selectively raising and lowering the side members 48 and the wheels 68; pivotal ad-L justment of .the. support 26; and for selectively raising and lowering the screw 80, respectively. Obviously, the pair of. conduits associated with each pump communicate with the respective ends of the pumps so that the piston rods'canbe sellectively moved into or out of their cylinders.

The present invention embodies a metallic spiral fence post I08 having an upper multisided end portion IIO that. enters a multi-sided recess. I I2 in the enlarged lower end II4 of the screw 80; (see Figure 4). The end portion H0 is secured in the recess II2 bya removable fastener llethat extends through the end H4 and an aperture in the end portion IIII.

In practical useof the present invention, the.

support is first adjusted to avertical position, regardless of vthe slope of the ground, and'the wheels '68 areraised orlowered depending on the length of the fence post. The rods Mare raised Obviously, the sleeve 32 could and the fence post attached to the screw by the fastener IIG.

As the rods I4 are lowered, the members 84 impart rotation to the screw and hence the post I08 and the post I08 is thereby screwed into the ground a predetermined amount, whereupon the fastener H6 is removed.

The tractor and frame are then moved and another fence post removed from the magazine and attached to the screw. The process is repeated until a predetermined number of posts have been driven.

Existing posts I08 can be removed by lowering the screw 80 and attaching: thee screw to the upper end of the fence post that is to" be removed. 7

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another type of fence past M8, the. exposed portion of which is covered with a concrete coating I20. Figures 9 and l0-illustrate' a fibrous fence post I22 having a spiralcore I2.4.whose lower end extends below the post for penetrating the ground.

The; apparatus described is also suitable for digging post holes, and in such an instance there is. provided an. auger I26r having an. elongated shank- I20 that. supports a clutch member. I30.

havinga clutch face I32. The. recess II2..re ceives the multi-sided. end. I34. of. an internally.

threaded socket I 36, ,and. the. end. I34 issecured,

in the recess I I2: by the-fastener. H6,

Another clutch-member, I38. is-threaded inrthe clutch member. I38.

The. clutch face. I46 of. the. member. I30, is. spaced from the: clutch-face. I32 of. the-member.- I30 until the ground penetratingmember I25;

begins to enter the ground, atywhich time. the

clutch face I 46 is lowered into engagement 1 with the clutch. face. I32; and. the. member.v I26. ro-.

tates with the. screw- 80.; As; the. screw 80.. is. raised, the. clutch facesare. disengaged so, that.

soil will be raisedsby-theauger I26;

Since wire is-tobe. trained between.adjacent posts, suitable attachments .-are:included :for such a purpose, asshownirr-Eigurefi. These-attache ments'include; a: Ueshapedi support. I 48 whose.

legportion are received on. extensions. I50- on. the ofisets -64. The web portion of the.- support. I48 is provided .with a circular opening. I52,that. rotatably receives. the lower,, reduced, circular.

The .upper. end. of the. column I56 provided with a circular. recess. I50.

end: I 54 .of a; column. I 56..

inwhich .there-.is. received a cylinder.. I 60 that is attached to the. lower. end, of. the. screw '80.

Wire I62 iscoiledabout the .column I56.and1is. supportedupo-n a plateI attached to the lo.wer. end of ,thecolurnn... Asthetractor andtheframe.

are moved, the. wire. I 62 beingattached to -.a post, will unwindsince the column. I56 can. rotate freely.

In view of the foregoing description-takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding; of the device will be quite-apparent to thosegskilled in this art. A moresdetailed descriptionis accord--- ingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that. even though. there is herein-shown and described. as preferred embodiment of the invention the-"same.

is susceptible to I certain 1 changes? fully; comprehendedby the-spirit of the invention .as hereindescribed and the scope of the appended'zclaimsl.

Having-described the invention, what is claimed asnewiszm,

1. A fence post driver and digger comprising a franie,a support pivoted on said frame for vertical, swinging movement, a pair of side members slidably carried by the support, wheels supported on said side members, means adjustably connecting said side members to the support for raising and lowering the side members and the wheels, a guide carried by the support, a vertically slidable holder on said support and includ ing a rotatable spiral screw, means in the guide for imparting rotation to the screw during raising or lowering of the holder, means adjustably securing the support to the frame for retaining the holder in a selected rotated position, and a ground penetrating member detachably secured -to and rotatable with said screw.

2. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame, a support pivoted to the frame for vertical swinging movement, an adjustable connection between the support and the frame for retaining the support in a selected rotated position, a pair of vertical side members slidably carried by the support, wheels on the lower ends of said side members, and another adjustable connection between said side members and said support for raising and lowering the side members and said wheels. 7

3. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame, a support pivoted to the frame for vertical swinging movement, an adjustable connection between the support and the frame for retaining the support in a selected rotated position, a pair of vertical side members slidably carried by the support, wheels on the lower ends of said side members, another adjustable connection between said side members and said support for raising and lowering the side members and said wheels, and means slidably carried by the support for driving a post into the ground, said last named means including a feed screw, a guide sleeve on said support slidably and rotatably receiving said screw, and means on said sleeve for imparting rotation to said screw during sliding of said screw.

4. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame, a support pivoted to the frame for vertical swinging movement. an adjustable connection between the support and the frame for returning the support in a selected rotated position, a pair of vertical side members slidably carried by the support, wheels on the lower ends of said side members, another adjustable connection between said side members and said support for raising and lowering the side members and said wheels, a pair of spaced parallel cylinders forming part of said support, a pair of rods slidably received in said cylinders, fluid pressure means operatively connected to the cylinders for selectively raising and lowering the rods, a cross-head joining the rods, a supporting member journaled for rotation on said cross-head and slidable with said IOds and said cross-head, and means carried by said support for imparting ,rotation to said supporting member during sliding of said supporting member.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support includes a pair of spaced parallel channel members, said side members being channel shaped and received in said channel members, said adjustable connection between said support and said side members including a guide secured to each side member, said channel members having longitudinal slots receiving said guides, and

a telescoped member between each of said guides and each of said channel members.

6. The combination of'claim 5 wherein said telescoped member includes a pump mounted on each channel member, and each of said pumps having a piston rod, said piston rods being attached to said guides.

'7. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame, a support pivoted on said frame for vertical swinging movement, a pair of side members slidably carried by the support, wheels supported on said side members, means adjustably connecting said side members to the support for raising and lowering the side members and the wheels, a guide carried by the support, a vertically slidableholder on said support and including a rotatable spiral screw, means in the guide for imparting rotation to the screw during raising or lowering of the holder, means adjustably securing the support to the frame for retaining the holder in a selected rotated position, a ground penetrating member, and means securing said ground penetrating member to said screw for rotation of the ground penetrating member with the screw only while the ground penetrating member is being driven into the ground.

8. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame, a support pivoted on said frame for vertical swinging movement, a pair of side members slidably carried by the support, wheels supported on said side members, means adjustably connecting said side members to the support for raising and lowering the side members and the wheels, a guide carried by the support, a vertically slidable holder on said support and including a rotatable spiral screw, means in the guide for imparting rotation to the screw during raising or lowering of the holder, means adjustably securing the support to the frame for retaining the holder in a selected rotated position, a ground penetrating member, a socket secured to and rotatable with the screw, a clutch member threaded in said socket and having a clutch face, said ground penetrating member having an upper end slidably carried by the clutch member, and a further clutch member fixed to said ground penetrating member and having a clutch face for engaging the first named clutch face as the ground penetrating member engages the ground and the first member clutch member is lowered with the screw toward the clutch member on the ground penetrating member.

9. A fence post driver and digger comprising a frame having a means for attaching the same to a towing vehicle, a support mounted on the frame and including a pair of channel-shaped members pivoted at their lower ends to the frame for vertical swinging movement, said channel members including lower straight portions facing each other, channel-shaped side members slidably received in the lower straight portions and including lower offset ends, a wheel mounted on each of said lower offset ends, an adjusteach; other; channel -shap edi sidecr members; slidably received in the: lowetrn straight: portions; and:

ineludin'g-lower offsetiends, aaw-heellmounted on each "of said lower ofisetaends; an adjustable con nectionrbetween thewupportand the frame for adjustingsthesupport: about its pivot; another.

adjustable connection between: the support and thersidemembers for; adj ustingi the side. members withimsaid: lower: straight portions,-. and means carried by the support for: driving a post intoand: having, piston rodss attached: to I said crossheade JAMES F. ZEISER;

References: Cited in the file 10f this; patent" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date McCoyet a1. Nov. 20, 1894; Fyfe Mar: 5, ,190L Smith Dec. 3,.1907 McDonald Feb. 4, 1913 Moore Nov. 15, 1921 Vance Apr. 22, 1941 Morgan' Feb. 20, 1945 Piper" Sept. 11, 1945 Shurtlefi June 28, 1949 

